【Interstellar Contract Magician】Ruyuanke

Chapter 430 [Empire] The road under my feet extended unknowingly

Standing on the side of the road, I stared at the blurry streetscape ahead. The hustle and bustle and neon lights around me seemed to recede further and further away. I no longer knew where to go, the path beneath my feet becoming blurry and indistinct. Everything around me continued to churn, cars passing by, pedestrians hurrying by, but I felt frozen in time, trapped in a state of immobility and confusion.

I looked down at my combat uniform. The texture, the heaviness of the material didn't matter; it felt like another kind of bondage, trapping me in an unsolvable cycle. No matter how hard I struggled, no matter how hard I tried, it seemed impossible to change the fate that had already been determined.

The conversation I had just had with Nightingale still lingered in my ears. His words, "You can leave," were like a key, locking away all my emotions and desires. I knew I could no longer stay here, relying on no one, not even Nightingale. He had been my strongest support, but ultimately, he couldn't change my fate.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself down, forcing myself to look away from the ground and into the distance. The road leading to the unknown still had no end, and I could only find my place at its end.

I took gentle steps, each one weighing heavily, as if the ground were tugging at my ankles, unwilling to let me leave. Yet, I knew, no matter what, I had to leave. To embrace the future I couldn't escape, to meet the "adopter" I hadn't truly known. No matter how far the distance between stars, there would always be a time to reach them.

Just like I left the capital star, walked towards the border star field, and walked towards Ye Qing's arms.

I closed my eyes, without any clear goal in mind, and no force to turn back. Although I felt so reluctant, I knew that life is a journey of constant farewells, and I, after all, must continue on.

Don't look back, keep moving forward.

Yes, farewells are indeed inevitable. Every journey, every new beginning, comes with its inevitable end. Just like me standing on this street right now, the path ahead isn't clear yet, but I already feel the weight of inescapable pain—whether it's the past or the future, there are always people and things I can no longer touch.

I know I still need to say goodbye to many people. Friends who have been with me, companions I've walked with along the way, and even dreams I've touched. Every relationship, every time, leaves a mark after parting, whether it's painful or heartwarming.

I think Nightingale is one of them. Although he doesn't need me to say goodbye specifically, and perhaps he wouldn't care too much about these details, I still clearly feel that leaving him, leaving this place, is a fact that I cannot avoid. And this farewell, whether short or eternal, will be like a scar, engraved in my memory.

Lin Hao and his sister, Wen Ya, Shan Qi... Each of them has had a place in my life, big or small, fleeting or lasting. No matter how close we once were, we all must eventually leave. Leaving them, and this familiar world, to embrace the new and unknown.

I took a deep breath, and the road beneath my feet extended unnoticed. I knew that this road would not be a lonely one, but it would ultimately belong to me and to everyone who chose to continue walking on it.

Goodbye, Nightingale. Goodbye, Lin Hao. Goodbye, everything I once knew. I will carry the strength you once gave me and continue moving forward, searching for the answers and future that belong to me.

Shan Qi's residence remained as simple and austere as ever, with a modern décor, clean lines, and little in the way of unnecessary ornamentation. The light was dim, with only a hint of moonlight filtering in from the floor-to-ceiling windows in the corner, casting a cool hue across the space. The involuntary, relaxing silence in the car seemed to grow even stronger as we entered this stillness.

I was feeling sleepy, my head swollen. Even the gentle whispers in the car seemed distant. I leaned back in the seat, feeling an inexplicable sense of peace. Everything around me seemed to be pulling away, becoming increasingly distant. Perhaps it was the long hours of overwork, or perhaps it was the silence of the night that had clouded my consciousness.

Shan Qi seemed to realize I wasn't feeling well and finally decided to take me to his place. The car's interior was quiet and enclosed, its body floating without any jolts, yet I couldn't help but close my eyes. Without giving it much thought, I was led to that familiar yet slightly unfamiliar residence.

"You should rest for a while," he said calmly, but with a hint of concern. "It seems like you really need to rest."

He led me into the living room and gently helped me onto the sofa. At that moment, it struck me that although Shan Qi was always cold and rational, he always seemed to reveal a different side at certain moments. I didn't refuse, nor did I open my mouth to respond. My physical exhaustion had already made it impossible to think too much; I just wanted to drift off into a deep sleep.

"Do you want some water? Do you need anything?" Shan Qi's voice sounded again, but obviously I didn't respond to him, and my eyelids became heavier and heavier.

At the moment when my consciousness began to blur, I vaguely saw his back as he walked towards the kitchen. His lonely and firm steps made me unconsciously relax my vigilance.

"Thank you." I whispered, and my eyelids finally closed completely, sinking into a dream.